Improvement



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPIIVEMENI IN MACHINES FUR PRESSING AND MLDING CIGAR-BUNCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,377, dated July 25,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. BREWER, of Charlestown, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvementsin Machines for Pressing and Molding Gigar-Bunches-that is, the bunchesof tobacco-leaves held together by binders previous to the applicationof the outside wrappersof which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingmaking part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspectiveview of my improved machine for pressing and molding` cigar-bunches.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionthrough the center of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan of the female portionof the die or mold. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the male portion ofthe die inverted.

Machines for pressing and molding cigarbunchesthat is, the bunches oftobacco-leaves held together by binders previous to the application ofthe outside wrappers-as heretofore constructed'have been provided withdies or molds made as usual in two pieces, (male and fe1nale,) thefemale portion being made slightly flaring toward the top to facilitatethe withdrawal therefrom of the cigar-bunch after being pressed. Thesemolds were, however, objectionable for the reason that a seam was madeon each side ofthe cigar-bimch, requiring it to be subjected to a sccondpressure in the die, and, furthermore, if an excess of tobacco wasplaced in the mold the cigar-bunch would be pressed by the descent ofthe male portion of the die so hard as to spoil it for smoking.

To overcome these objections is the object of my invention, whichconsists in dividing the female portion of the die or moldlongitudinally into two parts in connection with suitable mechanism,whereby, when the plunger or male portion of the die ascends, the twoparts of the female portion of the die will be separated to allow thecigar-bunch to be easily removed therefrom., these parts being againclosed together as the plunger descends and before it reaches thetobacco in the female portion ofthe mold; by which construction I amenabled to make the sides of this portion of the mold vertical insteadof liarin g, as heretofore, and as the plunger or male portion of thedie is made to perfectlyfit the female portion, all liability of makinga seam on the side of the cigar-bunch or cutting or tearing it isavoided; and my invention also consists in the employment of a weight orweights for closing together the two parts of the female portion of thedie, the weight or weights being so proportioned and connected with onepart as to allow it to separate from the other part if an excess oftobacco is placed in the mold and the plunger brought down thereon, thusnotifying the person in charge that the cigar-bun ch contains too muchstock; and my invention also consists in a plate or tongue projectingfrom one part of thefemale portion of the mold or die, in combinationwith a groove in the opposite part, which prevents the point of thecigar-bun ch from being accidentally forced into the space between thetwo parts when separated.

To enable others skilled in the art to under` stand and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carriedit out.

In the said drawing, A represents the framework of the machine within agroove, in which is fitted a slide, B, to the enlarged lower end ofwhich, in a suitable groove, is secured the plunger or male portion C ofa die or mold, which is held in place by screws a a. D is a vertical rodwhich passes through the frame-work and the bed-plate E, the upper endof this rod being attached to a piece, b, projecting from the top of theslide B, and its lower end to a treadle (not shown) placed under thetable upon which the machine rests, by which means the slide, and withit the portion C of the die, can be brought down as required, a spiralspring, G, which surrounds the rod D between the piece b and thebed-plate E,'being employed to raise the slide B when the pressure ofthe foot is taken oft' the treadle. Instead of the spring G, a springmay be placed under the table to raise the treadle and rod D. When theslide B is brought down the male portion C of the die is caused to enterthe female portion H of the die and press the cigarbunch placed thereinso as to mold it into the required form. The distance of the portion Cwhen down from the bottom of the portion H of the die may be regulatedwith great nicety, in order that the cigar-bunch when pressed may beeXactly round in cross-section, by means of screws c, which pass throughthe enlarged end of the slide B and bear upon the portion C, the screwsa being loosened to allow of this adjustment. On

the rear side of the slide B is a stop, 20, which prevents the portion Cof the mold from descending so far as to cause its lower edges to comeinto contact with the curved bottom of the portion H. The female portionH ofthe mold is divided longitudinally into two equal parts, one (6) ofwhich is secured to the bed-plate, the other (7) being attached to aplate, I, which slides on the bed-plate, and is held in place by theportions 8, the inner surfaces of which are inclined and lit against thecorrespondingly-beveled edges of the 'I bed-plate E.Y VTheV portions .67 of theV mold areY both secured in place by screws 9 which pass throughslots I0, by which means these two portions can be exactly adjusted asrequired and easily removed and replaced. At each end of the slidingplate I is a friction-roll, d, which is acted on by a lever, c, pivotedat 1I to the bedplate, andl having secured to it at one end a rod, J,the upper end of which passes loosely through an arm, j', attached tothe slide B. The rods J are provided at their upper ends with adjustablescrew-mits g, against which the arms f strike as the slide ascends,which raises the rods J and vibrates the levers c, the inclined surfacesl2 of which, acting on the rolls d, withdraw the part 7 of the mold fromthe part 6, when the cigar-bunch may be readily removed by hand andanother inserted. As soon as the slide B commences to descend the upwardpressure upon the rods J is relieved, and the sliding plate I is drawnup so as to bring the part 7 into contact with the part 6 by cords hattached to the plate I, which pass under pulleys t and over pulleys j,and have attached to them weights K. This movement of the sliding plateI causes the rolls d to raise the short ends of the levers e and depressthe rods J, which brings the nuts g again'into a position to be struckby the arms j' as the slide aseends.

The levers c and rods J are prevented from dropy ping too far when theslide B descends by stoppins 13 projecting from the bed-plate. Toprevent the point of the cigar-bunch from being ae-v cidentally forcedinto the space between the two parts G and 7 when separated, a groove,k, is cut in the part 6, into which fits a tongue or projecting-plate,Z, secured to thc opposite part 7, which effectually closes this end ofthe female portion of the mold when the two parts are separated Theweights K are of such size that if an excess of tobacco is placed in themold and the portion C brought down thereon the part 7 will be forcedaway from the part 5 against the resistance of the weights, thusnotifying the operator that the cigar-bunch contains too much tobacco.If it1 were not for this device the cigar-bunch, if it contained toomuch stock, would be pressed so hard that the cigar would be spoiled forsmoking. When the cigar-bunches are dry and hard they require morepressing than when moist, and in ymthrough which any (laster-smallpieces of tobacco left within the female portion of the mold may fallwhen the two parts are separated, this slot m being placed over asuitable opening cut through the table Y upon which the machine isplaced. The dust is also prevented from getting between the ends of thesliding plate I and the bed-plate by small plates n which cover thespaces between the bedplate and plate I beyond thel ends of the mold. Bythe employment of a machine constructed as above described a cigar-bunchmay be pressed and molded in a superior manner without seams, andwithout any liability of the tobacco being eut or torn; and by makingthe female portion of the die in two parts I am enabled to make itsinterior with vertical sides so that the portion C will tit closelytherein; whereas it has heretofore been necessary to make these sidesiiaring to allow the cigar-bunch to be removed by the hand. After thecigar-bunch has been removed from the mold it is placed in a suitableretainer, by which it is kept in shape until it becomes set.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The within-described die or mold, the female portion of which isdivided longitudinally into two parts, in combination with a mechanismfor opening z nd closing the same, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. The weights K, cord h, and plate I, connected and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The plate l, projecting from one part, 7, ofthe female portion ofthemold or die, in combination with the groove k in the opposite part (i,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 23d day of June, A. D. 1871.

IVILLIAM I). BREWER.

Witnesses:

P. E. TnsoHnMAci-inn, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

